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Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Laura Marling at The Famous Spiegeltent, Sydney

LAURA MARLINGThe Famous Spiegeltent, Hyde Park, 25/01/10

“I bloody love Australia,” Laura Marling told the sold-out crowd at the start of her three nights in Hyde Park, before going on to say what a pleasure it also was to play in such a lovely venue. Indeed, The Spiegeltent was the perfect setting for such a performer, and the English songwriter created a suitably intimate ambiance with her intelligent folk and charming stage presence.

Not surprisingly, considering her debut album is over two years old, she was keen to play lots of new material. Backed by a five piece band, including Tim Hart and Jake Tarasenko from Boy and Bear on banjo and bass, her new upbeat country folk numbers like Rambling Man sounded great, and she slotted in some more familiar tracks too. The wonderful Ghosts from her first record gave a reminder of the amazingly worldly lyrics she penned at such a young age: “Lover please do not fall to your knees/It's not like I believe in everlasting love.” The title track of her upcoming sophomore album, I Speak Because I Can, suggested that, at the ripe old age of 19 (her 20th birthday was still a week away), her words have even more melancholic depth. “My husband left me last night,” she sighed.

The use of cello, keys, drums, mandolin, guitar, bass and banjo offered a round sound, yet the set really dazzled when Marling stood alone with just her voice and acoustic guitar. The first song she ever wrote, Failure, again served to illustrate what a naturally gifted songwriter she is. Amongst solo renditions of other oldies and newies was a cover of Neil Young's The Needle and The Damage Done, and every nuance of her beautiful voice had the crowd entranced.

When the band took to the stage again though, they offered another highpoint. My Manic And I built up slowly, with shakers, keys and accordion unobtrusively creating a brooding atmosphere before pounding drums brought things to a rousing conclusion as Marling lifted her soft vocal a few notches. Having already warned the crowd that there would be no encore, she ended with Alas, I Cannot Swim and the promise she would be back in Australia soon. Let's hope so, as this was a truly enchanting evening from one of the finest young talents around.